It’s called medication synchronization, and the concept is simple enough — shifting patients to a synchronized, easy-to-comply-with, once-a-month prescription refill program so they can pick up all their medications with one visit to the pharmacy each month, instead of multiple trips.

Walgreens on Monday is recognizing its more than 27,000 community pharmacists for the important role they play in helping people get, stay and live well, as part of American Pharmacists Month in October.

Independent pharmacies are focusing more on helping patients adhere to their medication therapies and save money by using generics, according to a new digest for members of a trade group that represents independents.

Expanding the role of pharmacists in Canada is one solution that will reduce the burden of chronic illness on patients, and save the system an estimated C$1.4 billion to C$1.9 billion dollars over three years, according to a new report released by Arthritis Consumer Experts, the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart.

VoicePort announced the launch of its Medication Synchronization automated solution with two U. S. pharmacy chain clients and are in final stage negotiations with several others in support of helping pharmacies deliver increased patient health-and-wellness.

Whole generations of Americans have no memory of a time when doctors routinely made house calls. But with the rapid acceleration of telehealth and telepharmacy technologies — and their increasing use by physicians and pharmacy providers — the virtual house call is bringing remotely delivered health services to thousands of patients where they live, work and shop.

Bipartisan legislation that would let pharmacists devote more time to Medicare beneficiaries and less to adjudicating claims with pharmacy benefit management firms was introduced in the U.S. Senate and won the backing of the National Community Pharmacists Association earlier this week.

The Foundation for Health Smart Consumers has announced a major expansion of its smoking cessation initiative through the Inspire Program, which will launch at the annual Retail Clinician Education Congress held in May in Las Vegas.

With the prevalence of chronic disease conditions on the rise, Great-West Life, a provider of drug plan management solutions, and Canadian pharmacy retailer Shoppers Drug Mart have entered into an agreement to introduce two new health support programs for Great-West Life clients.

Safeway pharmacists will use a program developed by the University of California San Francisco School of Pharmacy to help people quit smoking, under a partnership with the supermarket operator announced by the university.

Widespread reliance on telemedicine to electronically deliver health and pharmacy services to hard-to-reach patients in remote locations is getting closer to reality. And in a fast-evolving health care system struggling to improve access to health services at a lower overall cost, that’s a good thing.

For decades, community pharmacy has waged a tireless campaign to gain recognition as an equal partner on the nation’s healthcare delivery team, and support for the role pharmacists can play as front-line patient care advocates.

Many health insurance plans are failing to provide coverage mandated by the healthcare reform law for treatments to help smokers and other tobacco users quit, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reported Monday, citing a study of insurance contracts by Georgetown University researchers that the group commissioned.

A coalition — which includes the California Medical Association, the California Dental Association, California Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, California Association of Medical Product Suppliers, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and American Medical Response — continues to work to block the state of California from cutting Medi-Cal reimbursement rates by 10%.

New, holistic models for integrated, patient-centered care are emerging from the fog of health reform almost as fast as you can say “accountable care organization.” But pharmacy and retail clinic operators aren’t waiting for ACOs to fully ripen.

Poll

Poll

Which of the current U.S. Presidential hopefuls do you think would be best for your business?

Hillary Clinton

Jeb Bush

Donald Trump

Ted Cruz

Ben Carson

Scott Walker

Marco Rubio

Rand Paul

Chris Christie

Mike Huckabee

SPECIAL REPORTS

Pharmacy’s battle for recognition continues

Fifty years ago this summer, President Lyndon B. Johnson secured his place in history by signing into law the legislation that created Medicare and Medicaid. To commemorate the anniversary, Drug Store News has put together an exclusive report on the effect that Medicare and Medicaid have had on the retail pharmacy industry and how it has transformed the role of the pharmacist. more...

IN THIS ISSUE

In this issue, DSN profiles Rite Aid and how the company is achieving a vision to become a retail healthcare company that delivers a higher level of care to its communities; takes you on a tour of Sears; offers insight into millennial shoppers and more. Click here to view the issue.